Vein Systems

This topic describes creating a vein system for a geological model. The topic is divided into:

An alternative to defining veins one-by-one is to create a vein system. The vein system represents a single lithology within the geological model. For example, for a model of a sedimentary system cross-cut by vertical intersecting dykes, we could model the veins one-by-one, in which case each “vein” in the model is represented by a separate lithology, as shown here:

Modelled as a vein system, however, the veins are grouped into a vein system object () that defines the lithology for the vein system as a whole:

Note that the individual veins are defined as part of the vein system.

The vein system defines how the veins interact, and veins can be added to it using the same techniques used to create individual veins.

Creating a Vein System

To create a vein system, right-click on the Surface Chronology and select New Vein System. In the window that appears, select the Vein lithology:

If the vein system contacts only one lithology, set the Outside lithology. Otherwise, leave Outside lithology set to Unknown.

Click OK. An empty vein system () will be added to the project tree under the Surface Chronology. Double-click on it to change the lithologies.

Adding Veins to the Vein System

Once the vein system has been created, you can create veins using the same techniques described in Veins From Lithology Contacts and Veins From Other Data.

To add veins to the vein system, right-click on the vein system and select one of the New Vein options:

Veins will appear in the project tree as part of the vein system object and can be expanded to show how they were created.

Editing the Veins

The techniques for editing vein system veins are the same as those for veins created one-by-one. See Refining Veins.

Changing Vein System Lithology Settings

You can change the lithology settings for a vein system by double-clicking on the vein system () in the project tree. In the Lithology tab, change the Vein lithology or the Outside lithology.

Setting Vein Interactions

Once all the veins required have been created, you can start defining the interactions between them by double-clicking on the vein system (), then clicking on the Vein System tab:

The veins appear in the list from highest priority to lowest. Organise the veins in chronological order before defining interactions.

The Vein priority determines which veins other veins can interact with. You cannot define an interaction for the highest priority vein in the list, and other veins in the list can interact only with those of higher priority.

Here, Vein B can only interact with Vein A, the higher priority vein:

The lowest priority vein, Vein D, can interact with all the other veins in the system:

To define an interaction, click on a vein, then click the Add button. Add an interaction for each vein and then set the Side on which they interact.

Once you have defined the required vein interactions, tick the box for each vein, then click OK. Once the Vein System object has been processed, add it to the scene to check that the veins interact correctly.

You can also edit vein interactions by double-clicking on the individual veins, which opens the vein’s Edit window:

Veins and the vein system are not active in the geological model until the box is ticked for each vein in the Edit Vein System window and the vein system is enabled in the Surface Chronology. This means you can check the vein system without regenerating the geological model.

 

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